TS,Wednesday 27 October 2010
I refer to the report “Ministry to develop motor tourism” (The Star, Oct 22) and hope that the task force will be adequately prepared for their first meeting in December.
I was first involved in this particular sector in tourism 30 years ago. Back then we were offering Datsuns 120Y and 1200.
We even delivered the cars to Europeans at Changi airport after their arrival by long haul flights.
Many of these tourists are Swiss. Coming from a cold and developed country, they found themselves getting in and sitting on the other side of the car and then driving off on the ‘wrong’ side of the road.
Their next few weeks were mainly spent driving on trunk roads all over our peninsula in a small car, and they absolutely loved it!
Another big market was Australia most of the Australians renting the cars for two to three weeks. Caravans are popular in Australia but will not gain popularity here because of the many affordable hotels.
For a long time, I have been proclaiming that peninsular Malaysia is one of the best places in the world for a motoring holiday. Therefore, the decision to promote this sector is not a moment too soon.
Tourists on such ‘Fly-drive holidays’ deserve a red carpet welcome as they spread their tourist dollar everywhere they go. They are truly welcomed by the locals in the smallest town and remote kampungs.
Apart from homestays operators, other outlets such as chalets, ‘warongs’ and cottage industries are bound to benefit. Such inclusive tourism brings immense benefits to both tourists and the locals.
At the other extreme, many tourists from large countries in Asia are always brought to touristic destinations, selected restaurants and controlled shopping, in tour buses and with hardly any interaction with the locals and left with a superficial view of our country.
The future trend of tourism should be on meaningful experiences. Therefore, I urge the task force to go beyond coming up with a name and reorganising existing information to promote motoring holidays.
As this is an upmarket product, these well-heeled tourists would be attracted to the conservation part they can play while in Malaysia. Telling them we have plenty of cheap fossil duels for them to burn can be a turn off.
The task force can also work with the Car Rental Association of Malaysia and the Automobile Association of Malaysia apart from the local councils and Malaysian Automotive Association.
I would recommend that we offer hybrid rental cars and grant them excise duty exemption. Our car prices and car rental rates are among the highest in the world.
As a long term measure, we should provide electric cars and build battery swopping stations nationwide to supplement the overnight charging at hotels. This will enable Malaysia to leapfrog as the premier destination for green motoring holidays.
The various state governments should earmarked selected spots for tourists to plant a tree for them to have a lasting legacy of their stay. For a subscription, the growth of the tree can be monitored over the internet and be designated as a ‘family tree’. The sentimental value will ensure the tourists and their families keep returning to visit.
YS Chan
Kuala Lumpur
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